SMALL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
LIFE AFTER GRADUATION; WHAT TO DO WHEN THE JOB IS NOT THERE
Basola A. Victor
LIFE AFTER GRADUATION; WHAT TO DO WHEN THE JOB IS NOT THERE
Basola A. Victor
A student’s dream and aspiration is to graduate with Good Grades and Get a Good/Dream Job that will put an end to all their life’s problems. Whenever they are asked about their life ambition, they are quick to answer “To Graduate, Get a good JOB and raise a family. Their definition of a Good JOB is one that pays them around 50,000-100,000 for a start and they will take nothing less even though they do not possess the equivalent expertise to justify the salaries they Crave for.
Amazingly, their Definition of a Good Job becomes a Mirage as the few available spaces are occupied and the GOVERNMENT minimum wage is a far cry from their Dream Salary. The lazy ones sit at home; blaming the Government and circumstances; but the dogged and tough take advantage of the situation and they forge Ahead. Do you fit into the picture above; are you a fresh graduate in need of a good job that’s eluding you? Then follow through, use the information that you need, discard the ones you do not need and do not forget to contact me when you are done.
“He who knows why will get a job, he who knows how will be his Boss”.
(A) LOOK INWARD
The reason most of us are Jobless after high school is probably because we went into school to study a course that was foisted on us either by our parents, JAMB, PRE-DEGREE or CIRCUMSTANCE. We did not really study what we like and will like to work with. Hence our certificates are mere “Rubber Stamps”. The real you is inside. The needed skills, gifts, talents and endowments needed to succeed are in you waiting for discovery. “If you can discover what you are naturally good for and stay there; you stop struggling. You just wake up daily and be your normal self?
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING?
This is a question I often ask my clients and the answer provided often signifies the hidden wealth in them. Just imagine yourself doing that thing you love and people are paying you for it. You stop working; you start Enjoying Yourself and people pay you for Enjoying Yourself.
WHAT ARE YOUR NATURALL SKILLS
It’s almost natural for your inborn skills and abilities (which makes us distinct) to be in line with what you love. No matter how crude or insignificant or unsellable you think those skills are just get a sheet of paper and list them out. It could be Singing, Playing an instrument, Talking, Organizing of parties, Reading, acting, sports, Playing video games, Hair plaiting, Barbing and a host others. All we need to do is
POLISH THEM
If you have seen Raw Gold before, with your untrained eyes, you probably would have mistaken it for dirt or stones. Nothing is appealing and market worthy in its raw form. Those skills need HORNING. Yours could be Selling/Marketing. You’d probably need to work on your Grammar/speaking skills, people skills and learn some simple marketing tips that could help you. Yours could be to become a stand up comedian like Basket mouth; you don’t expect Nigerians to pay you now what they pay him. The difference between the two of you is Knowledge, Exposure, Development and Time.
You do not necessarily have to go to school before you polish your skills you can school yourself by getting yourself Mentors (People who have achieved what you want to achieve and are willing to help you), Good Books, Good Tapes, Watch other Good Comedians and learn everything you think you need.
“You will be the same person now and 20 years later save for the people you associate with and the books you read”.
Before you go on, I will suggest you put that your skill or ability of interest though what I call The ACID TEST.
CAN YOU DO IT WITHOUT MONEY?
If money is your primary aim of choosing your line of business then I bet you that business will not out live you. Your primary aim should be an inborn passion to express your gifts and talents to the world. Among Your Favourite pastimes there are some which you love doing and can happily continue doing even without pay for the rest of your life.
That’s the click, and amazingly, that’s where your Real Hidden money is; DOING WHAT YOU LOVE.
(B) LOOK AROUND
What is the basic need of your immediate environment, if your skill and talent is going to fetch you money, then it must solve people’s problems; it must create value. Wealth flows in the direction of value. Men will happily pay you if you solve their problem and meet their needs. So your Talent/skill must be centered on a need of your environment and I bet you if you can find out that BASIC NEED that naturally suits your skills, then you are on your way to WEALTH. If you can find a need and meet it customers will knock down your Door.
Probably or possibly, person’s or companies have been meeting those needs before it is now left for you to identify what the people Crave for that those existing companies are not giving them.
HOW CAN YOU DO IT BETTER
There is no fun in going into an existing line of business and doing it the same way. It is going to be boring and less profitable. People crave for new ways of doing things. There is no entirely new idea, only a Rebranding and Repackaging of old ones.
(C) GET A BUSINESS NAME
Your business name should not be organized or gotten in a hurry. Your Business name should be meticulously thought out for it will make customers want to know more if well crafted. Your Business name must create a stir or raise a gossip. A business name gives you class, it becomes your Brand. If a customer is provided with two options Okere Community bank and Eagle Flight Micro Finance Bank, two banks, same services, different names; your guess of his choice is as good as mine. It is not a must that your Business name must be your name and that of your wife or Brother. Think of something exquisite, something sizzling that connotes class and your name will soon become a song on your customer’s lips. If you are going into the clothing line instead of Madam Comfort Boutique how about DRESS RITE or SEW TO FIT; you know names that will sell your idea immediately.
(D) REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS NAME
It’s cheaper now to register your Business name with corporate affairs commission than ever, it’s now 5,000 naira to do a business name registration and this enables you to open a corporate account in your business name and makes you a recognized corporate body by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
(E) PACKAGE YOUR CORRESPONDENCE
Ø Your Office.
Ø Advert Banners/ T.V Jingle/Newspaper Averts.
Ø Complementary Card.
Ø Flyer and Handbills.
Ø Bill Boards etc.
Don’t be scarred or frightened about the big things you just saw. I know the question on your mind. How do I get the money to do all that, yes I know you are a young graduate.
“The most important thing you need on that list for now is your Complimentary Card”.
Try as much as possible to print a Complimentary Card that will provoke enquires. It must not necessarily be expensive but it should be a Complimentary card not a complimentary handbill, simple, precise and beautiful.
Talking about on office what I will advice you to do is;
CONVERT YOUR DWELLING PLACE IN A PROFITABLE ASSET
You already have an office just separate your house, put a table and chair some where and hang a Notice inscribed “OFFICE” with your business name attached. Weird you might think but most of the great brands you see today stated likewise until you grow enough to rent a befitting and well located Business premises.
(F) SHOUT IT LOUD
If you have extra money after printing your complimentary cards, you could afford to;
Ø
DIRTS KILL
Let us kill’em before they do
CORPORATE LAUNDRY
07035121346
Corporate laundry@yahoo.com
# Suite 001 Elshaddai House, Abraka
Business Advice to arrest their Interest
Your Business Name [in another Colour]
Phone No
Office AddressPRINT small Banners with your business Name, an advice and your Business INFO, you can have something like this;
Then HANG IT AROUND TOWN; at busy Junctions popular spots etc.
Ø
I HAVE KILLED MY DIRTS
“Thanks to”
(CORPORATE LAUNDRY)
07035121346 / corporate laundry@yahoo.com
Boldly InscribedPRINT car sticker and Give to your customers as they patronize you; something like.
Ø Print your Name on you best shirts and wear them when ever you are going out for business.
Ø Always carry your publicity materials wherever you go;
You never can tell where you’d meet your clients so always arm yourselves with your mobile sales men (your publicity materials).
They can travel far you know.
(G) BE THE BEST
Your company should never stop learning, improving growing and innovating. You need constant growth and improvement to be the best in your field and Remain tops. Remember, the higher the quality, the higher the demand and this means that your sales will sky rocket if you step on your quality.
Till we meet again, go practice these simple steps and do not forget to write me, your questions will be answered and published.
Go be the solution to your world.
Basola A. V
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Basola A. victor is the CEO of BASH CONCEPTS international, a Business solutions firm dedicated to becoming a one stop source for Overall Business development
Phone No: +234 (0) 7035-121-346, 0807-8957-783
E-mail: bashconcepts@yahoo.com
Website: www.basolavictor.blogspot.com
